Tree-Style Potted Plant Holder and Hubs, Supports, Adapters and Watering System for Same

ABSTRACT

A potted plant holder features a number of post pieces that assemble to form a post structure that supports a number of hubs thereon, which in turn each support a number of branch-like supports. A reduced diameter end of each post piece nests within the other end of another post piece for easy assembly. Each branch has a simple wire structure with a bent end configured to form two parallel legs jutting perpendicular to the branch length for receipt of the legs in an outer opening of the hub around the post. A pot-size adapter features a ring of smaller diameter than an integral pot-supporting ring of the branch and hangers that suspend the smaller ring therefrom. A watering system features ring-shaped conduits that fit over the different levels of branches and branch conduits running outward along the branches of each level from the respective ring-shaped conduit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/454,650, filed Mar. 21, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to potted plant holders and moreparticularly to tree-style potted plant holders wherein multiple tiersof potted plants are carried on a central upright post by radialsupports extending outward therefrom to simulate branches of a tree.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several tree-style potted plant holders have been disclosed in the priorart. Tree shaped stands having a central pole, post or trunk andbranch-like supports extending outward therefrom can be found in U.S.Pat. Nos. 370,70, 113,035, 214,061, 649,665, 1,747,951, 3,018,898,4,770,303, 4,991,344, 5,178,286, 5,487,476, 6,595,377, D244571, andD345871.

Watering systems for tree style plant holders are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 217,010, 577,230, 5,598,662 and 6,843,022.

However, there remains room for improvement, as Applicant has developeda unique potted plant holder assembled from a number of componentsproviding unforeseen advantages in terms of one or more of ease or costof manufacture or transport, ease of assembly, customizability andreconfigurability, and has developed a unique plant watering systemcompatible with the novel plant holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pottedplant holder comprising:

a plurality of elongated post pieces including:

-   -   a bottom post member having a hollow upper end; and    -   at least one additional post member comprising an upper portion        of uniform cross-sectional outer periphery and a lower end of        reduced cross-sectional outer periphery relative to the upper        portion, the lower end of reduced cross-sectional outer        periphery being sized to fit within the hollow upper end of the        bottom post member and seat the upper portion of uniform        cross-sectional outer periphery atop the hollow upper end of the        bottom post member, and the upper portion being equal in        cross-sectional outer periphery to the hollow upper end of the        bottom post member;

a plurality of hubs each comprising a central passage extending axiallytherethrough, the central passage having a cross-sectional size andshape sufficient to accommodate the uniform cross-sectional peripherytherein;

a plurality of elongate support branches for each hub, each supportbranch having an inboard end configured for support by said hub radiallyoutward from the central passage therethrough at a respective positionaround said central passage and an outboard end configured as a ring forsupporting a plant pot; and

a stop device associated with each hub and operable in cooperation withsaid hub and any uprightly oriented post member of the plurality ofelongated post members when said hub is slidably disposed around saidpost member to retain the hub at a select position along said postmember;

whereby the equal cross-sectional periphery of the hollow upper end ofthe bottom post member and the upper portion of the additional postmember enables sliding of any hub from the additional post member to thebottom post member, and vice versa, while said post members are fittedtogether end-to-end.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pottedplant holder comprising:

an upright elongated post:

a plurality of hubs supported on the elongated post at spaced apartpositions therealong, each hub comprising a plurality of outer passagesextending axially thereinto at areas outward from the elongated post atrespective positions therearound and each outer passage having aslot-shaped cross-section elongated in one of two orthogonal directions;

a plurality of elongate support branches for each hub, each supportbranch comprising a rod that is bent at an outboard end thereof to forma ring for supporting a pot and bent at an inboard end to form a firstleg extending laterally relative to a plane of the ring and a second legextending back along the first leg from an integral connection thereto,the legs being fittable side by side in any of the outer passages of thehub in the elongated direction of the slot-shaped cross-section thereof.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a pottedplant holder hub for carrying potted plant support branches on anupright elongated post, the hub comprising a body having a centralpassage extending axially therethrough and a plurality of outer passagesextending axially into the body outward from the central passage at therespective positions therearound, the central passage having across-sectional size and shape sufficient to accommodate a cross-sectionof the upright elongated post and each outer passage having aslot-shaped cross-section elongated in one of two orthogonal directions.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided pottedplant holder support branch comprising a rod that is bent at an outboardend to form a ring for supporting a pot and bent at an inboard end toform a first leg extending laterally relative to a plane of the ring anda second leg extending back along the first leg from an integralconnection thereto.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided an upperpotted plant support for mounting atop an upright post of a potted plantholder, the upper support stand comprising a sleeve dimensioned to slideover an upper end of the additional post member and a support ringcarried on the sleeve in a position thereover.

Preferably the potted plant support comprises a bent rod that is coiledaround an axis at one end thereof to define the sleeve and is bent atthe other end to form the support ring.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided anadapter kit for changing a size of potted plant for which a potted plantholder having pot supporting rings is configured, the kit comprising aset of adapter rings each smaller in diameter than the pot supportingrings of the potted plant holder and a plurality of mounts configured toselectively couple the adapter rings to the rings of the potted plantholder in parallel orientations therewith to configure the supportbranches for nested support of smaller potted plants.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided awatering system for a potted plant holder having an upright elongatedpost structure and multiple sets of branches at different heights alongthe post structure and each comprising a plurality of elongate supportbranches projecting outwardly away from post structure in order tosupport potted plants on said support branches, the watering systemcomprising:

an intake conduit having an inlet arranged to couple to a water source;

a plurality of ring-shaped conduit members coupled to the intake conduitand each sized for placement over the post structure to form a waterconduit that is fed by the water source and that extends around the poststructure above a respective set of branches;

at least one post conduit each fluidly coupled between a respective pairof the ring-shaped conduit members to extend along the post structure todeliver water from one of said pair ring-shaped conduit members to theother of said pair of ring-shaped conduit members;

a plurality of branch conduits in fluid communication with the waterconduit of each ring-shaped conduit member and extending outwardtherefrom to extend along the elongate support branches to the pottedplants; and

a water outlet at an end of each branch conduit opposite the ring-shapedconduit member to discharge water into the potted plants.

Preferably each branch conduit comprises flexible tubing.

Preferably the water outlet comprises an outlet tube arranged todischarge water therefrom at multiple points therealong.

Preferably the water outlet is ring-shaped.

Preferably the water outlet comprises a soaker hose.

Preferably the soaker hose has opposite ends thereof coupled to aT-fitting that is also coupled with an end of the branch conduitopposite the ring-shaped conduit member.

Preferably each ring-shaped conduit member comprises multiple lengths oftubing connected together by T-fittings, each of which connects thelengths of tubing of the ring-shaped conduit to a respective one of thebranch conduits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tree-style potted plant holder of oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a branch-style pot support of the plantholder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a branch support hub of theplant holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the branch support hub of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment tree-style potted plant holder, with aclose up view of a base and leg assembly thereof.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the plant holder of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an upper support stand of theillustrated plant holders.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly variation of the plantholder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of a post and hub assembly of theillustrated plant holders.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an adapter ring for the illustratedplant holders.

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the adapter ring of FIG. 10A anda series of hangers for suspending the adapter ring from the larger ringof the support of FIG. 2 or 7 in order to adapt the support for use witha smaller potted plant.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a potted plant holder and correspondingplant watering system of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an overhead plan view illustrating components of the plantwatering system of FIG. 11 prior to assembly and installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an assembled tree-style potted plant holder 10 of thepresent invention. As in prior art holder of this style, the holderfeatures a vertically upright post or trunk 12 having support arms orbranches 14 projecting radially outward therefrom to carry potted plants(not shown) at the outboard ends of these arms distal to the post 12.The arms are arranged in tiers or levels at different vertically spacedlocations along the length of the post 12, and except for an uppermosttier 14, each tier 16, 18, 20 features a plurality of arms 22 angularlyspaced equally around the circumference of the post 12. The arms of eachsuch tier are of the same length to support potted plants at thatparticular tier at equal radial distances outward from the post 12,while the arm length and number of arms decreases moving upward alongthe post 12. The uppermost tier features a single potted plant support24 mounted atop the post 12 to carry a single potted plant over the topend thereof. Decreasing the radial arm length from tier to tier, from alongest arm length at the lowermost tier 20 to a zero radial arm lengthat the uppermost tier 14, gives the plant holder an upwardly taperingshape simulating that of a tree. Increasing the number of arms per tierin the downward direction functions to improve consistency infilling-out the available plant space of each tier, as the greaterradial extent of the lower tiers creates a larger circular array ofpotted plant sites and increasing the number of potted plant supports inthe larger arrays improves the consistency of plant spacing or tierdensity among the different tiers of the holder.

While the above described basic layout of multiple plant tiers arrangedto collectively simulate a tree shape by supporting multiple levels ofplants at relatively uniform plant density among the different levels isknown, the holder 10 of the present invention features numerousdifferences from prior art tree-style potted plant holders that providesignificant advantage in such areas including cost of production, easeof assembly, portability and end-user customization. The stands of theillustrated embodiments are each made up of several smallspace-efficient components that can be efficiently packed for easy andcost-effective transport, are easily assembled together without the useof tools, and easily disassembled back down to individual components forstorage or transport. The holder is easily customizable by use of onlyselect components during its assembly, and is easily reconfigurable tochange such aspects as the number of tiers, number of arms per tier orarm length of each tier without minimal disassembly.

FIG. 2 shows one of the branch-style support arms 22 of the plant holder10 of FIG. 1. The arm 22 is formed entirely from a single piece ofself-supporting wire rod formed into a suitable shape described below byconventional wire bending processes, thereby avoiding the need forwelding or otherwise fastening together separate pieces for each branchto minimize production costs and the degree of end-user assembly. Theterm self-supporting refers to sufficient rigidity in the rod tomaintain its shape absent any external force sufficient to bend the rodfrom its current shape. The gauge of wire used provides thisself-supporting rigidity in addition to sufficient shape-retainingstrength to support potted plants of a size for which the holder isintended. A central portion 26 of the wire rod remains in its originalstraight, linearly extending condition. At one end of the centralportion 26, the wire rod is bent to form nearly a full circle in thesame plane as the linear central portion 26, leaving only a small gap 27between the very end point of the wire and the end of the centralportion, thereby forming a split ring 28 in or on which the pot of apotted plant can be seated. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, thecentral portion 26 extends in a radial direction relative to the ring28, while the embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative armsupport 22′ in which the central portion 26′ is tangential relative tothe support ring 28′.

Turning back to FIG. 2, at the opposite inboard end of the centralportion 26, the support arm wire is bent into a U-shape 30 in the samevertical plane as the horizontally extending vertical portion 26, i.e.in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the ring28. The U-structure 30 features a first vertical leg 30 a extendingdownward from its integral connection with the central portion 26 of thewire rod, and a curved bottom 30 b spanning through 180-degrees to joinwith a second vertical leg 30 c extending back upward along the firstleg 30 a at a distance therefrom in a direction parallel thereto. Thesecond leg terminates at the same elevation as the central portion 26 tomark the very inboard end of the wire rod and complete the U-shapeconfiguration.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the structure of a mounting hub 32 used tocarry the supports 22, 24 of each tier of the plant holder 10 on themain post 12 thereof. The hub 32 features two circular disc-shapedplates 34 disposed parallel to one another in spaced-apart horizontalplanes. The two plates are of equal diameter and are aligned with oneanother on a vertical axis passing perpendicularly through them. Eachplate 34 features a central aperture 36 that is circular in shape andcentered on the vertical axis. A plurality of radial slots 38, of whichthere are seven in the illustrated embodiment, are provided in eachplate 34 at equally spaced angular positions around the central aperture36 between the aperture 36 and the circular outer periphery orcircumference of the plate 34. A plurality of bolt holes 40 are alsofound in each plate 34 near the plate's circumference at respectiveangular positions spaced around the central aperture 36, each between arespective neighbouring pair of the radial slots. At each such bolt hole40, a cylindrical hollow spacer 41 resides between the two plates 34 inaxial alignment with this bolt hole and the respective bolt hole in theother plate. A respective bolt 42 passes through this aligned pair ofbolt holes and the respective hollow cylindrical spacer 42 to seat thehead 42 a of the bolt atop the upper plate so that the threaded free end42 b of the bolt shaft depends downward through the bottom plate, wherea respective nut 44 is threaded onto the bolt. This threaded engagementof the nut and bolt, under sufficient tightening thereof, clamps the twoplates 34 against the respective ends of the spacer 42. Fastening theplates and spacer together in this bolted manner at each of the boltholes completes the assembly of the hub, positioning the plates inalignment with one another in their spaced apart parallel planes.

The lengthwise dimension of each slot 38, i.e. the elongated radialdirection, not the smaller widthwise direction, slightly exceeds thewidth of U-shaped end portion 30 (i.e. the perpendicular leg-to-legdistance of the U, including the diameter of both legs) of each supportarm 22 while the width of each slot 38 slightly exceeds the diameter ofthe wire support arm 22. Accordingly, the U-shaped end portion 30 of anysupport arm 22 can be lowered into a selected slot 38 in the top plateof the hub 32, but only in a predetermined orientation relative thereto,as the narrow width of the slot will only accommodate the U-shaped end30 of the support arm 22 when the width thereof substantially aligns thelength of the slot 38. The height of the equal-length legs 30 a, 30 c ofthe U-shaped end portion 30 of the support arm 22 exceeds theperpendicular distance between the two horizontal plates 34 of the hub,so that lowering of the U-shaped end portion 30 through the slot in theupper plate so far as to seat the central portion 26 atop the upperplate acts to lower the curved bottom 30 b of the U-shaped end portion30 through the respective slot in the lower plate so as to hangtherebeneath.

The conforming of the slot dimensions to fit closely, but notinterferingly, around the U-shaped end of the support arm acts to blockpivoting of the support arm 22 about any vertical axis after insertioninto the hub 32 so that the support arm maintains a substantially fixedstationary position unless it is manually removed by vertical withdrawalfrom the respective slots of the hub. Each pair of aligned slots in theplates thus defines a respective passage extending vertical through thehub for receipt of a support arm's U-shaped end portion 30, while theslot-shaped cross-section of this passage at the ends thereof marked bythe slots limits or prevents pivoting or twisting of the support arm forstable, stationary support of a potted plant at its outboard end distalto the hub. The central apertures 36 in the two end plates 34 of the hublikewise form an axial passage through the hub 32, and with reference toFIG. 1, the circular diameter of this central passage's cross-section atthe ends thereof marked by the central plate apertures 36 is slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical post 12 so that eachhub can be installed on the post by sliding thereover from the top endthereof down to a desired position for a respective tier of the stand.Further detail on the hub installation is provided herein below.

Turning to FIG. 9, the post 12 is not of a single piece structure, butrather is assembled from multiple identical sections of hollow circulartubing 46. Each of these tubing members is of a uniform outer diameterfrom its top end 48 down to a position near, but upwardly spaced from,its bottom end 50. The tubing is swaged to have a smaller diameter atits lower end 50 than at the top end 48. The resulting reduced diameterlower portion 46 a extends from the bottom end 50 of the member up tothe transition to the larger uniform-diameter upper portion 46 b of themember. The outer diameter of this reduced diameter portion 46 a isslightly less than the inner diameter of the uniform diameter portion 46b so that the reduced diameter lower portion 46 a of any tubular member46 will fit within the hollow top end 48 of another. This selectablenesting of the bottom end of one tubular member in the top end ofanother thus combines the tubular members together end-to-end to form alength of tubing greater than their individual lengths. The illustratedembodiment shows three tubing members fitted together end-to-end to formthe vertically upright post 12. Forming the post in sections allows formore space-efficient packing or storage when the plant holder is not inuse, as the post sections can be stored side-by-side to avoid thesignificant length required to accommodate a one piece post of lengthequal to the assembled length of the tubular post members.

With the tubular members each having the same uniform diameter upperportion into which the reduced diameter lower portion of another membercan be fully received to sit the other member's upper portion directlyatop that of the member beneath it, the assembled members thus form apost 12 of substantially uniform diameter from the lower portion of thebottom member up to the top end of the top member, leaving only a fineseam between the butted together uniform diameter portions of two postmembers 46. This way, a hub 32 can be slid freely along the post,transitioning from one post member 46 to another without interferencefrom any external coupling between members.

FIG. 9 demonstrates how a hub 32 is installed on the post. The hub 32 isslid onto a post assembled from multiple post members 46, or onto anindividual post member 46, by fitting the central apertures of the hubplates 34 over the top end of post or member. Each vertical post member46 features one or more, and preferably two or more, transverse holes 52extending horizontally and diametrically through it. Before placement ofthe hub into sliding condition on the post or member, or while holdingan already placed hub above a selected transverse hole 52 at which thehub is desired, the straight portion of a bent arm pin 54 is passedthrough the selected tranverse hole 52 to position the straight end ofthe pin shaft on the side of the respective post member 46 opposite thebent end 54 a of the pin, which projects laterally from the straightportion to prevent full sliding of the entire pin through the hole 52. Ahairpin cotter pin 56 is passed transversely through the straightportion of the bend arm pin 54 adjacent the free end thereof on the sideof the post member 46 opposite the bent end 54 a of the bent arm pin 54,thereby locking the bent arm pin in its condition passing through thepost member 46 until such time as the hairpin cotter pin is latermanually removed. The portions of the bent arm's straight shaftprojecting radially outward from diametrically opposite sides of thepost member 46 form seats onto which the bottom plate of the hub 32 islowered, thereby seating the hub 32 at the position of the selectedtransverse hole 52. It will be appreciated known pin arrangements otherthan the illustrated bent-pin and cotter pin combination may similarlybe employed to engage the post to support hubs thereon.

FIG. 5 shows a base 58 for receiving the bottom end of the post 21 andcoupling a plurality of legs 60 thereto. The base features two parallel,horizontal, disc-shaped plates featuring the same central apertures andbolt holes as the hubs 32 described above. The base differs from thehubs only in that each plate lacks the slots for defining outerarm-receiving axial passages through the hub, and in place of these,features leg-receiving apertures likewise positioned between the centralaperture and the outer circumference of the plate. The legs 60 of theillustrated embodiment are each formed by bending a length of tubinginto a flattened S-shape having a linear central portion 62, a footportion 64 projecting laterally from the central portion in a firstdirection at one end, and a coupling portion 66 projecting laterallyfrom the central portion in an opposite second direction at the otherend. The coupling portion is extended vertically upward through theleg-receiving holes in the two plates of the base 58 until the cornertransition or bend between the linear portion and the coupling portionengages against the bottom plate of the base to block further upwardtravel of the coupling portion's top end through the base. Three or morelegs, four in the illustrated embodiment, are installed in this mannerso that the linear portions of the legs extend generally horizontallyoutward from the base 58 in different radial directions therefrom, andthe foot portions depend vertically downward at the outermost extents ofthe legs to engage the ground, thereby carrying the base 58 centrallybetween the legs at an elevated position over the ground. FIG. 5 showsthe legs, and thus the leg-receiving holes in the base plates, as havingsquare or rectangular cross-section, and the closely dimensionedstraight-sided shapes prevent pivoting of each leg about the verticalaxis of the respective aligned bolt holes. However, it will beappreciated that other cross-sections may be use. For example, circulartubing could be used for the legs, which may be horizontally swingablein round holes to allow user-set orientations of the legs relative tothe base.

With the base and legs assembled, the bottom end of the post is receivedthrough the central apertures in the top and bottom plates of the base,and held by the installer at an elevation positioning the lower one ofthe two transverse holes in the bottom post member between the twoplates. A locking pin assembly, 68, for example like that used to latersupport hubs on the post, is then installed in this transverse hole inorder to sit the post-traversing pin atop the bottom plate of the baseand thus block sliding of the post downward through the bottom plate'scentral aperture, thereby maintaining the post at an elevated positionoff the ground to situate it's upper transverse hole a distance abovethe base for installation of a respective hub at that upper hole.Alternatively, the post member may include a transverse hole positionedto accept the post supporting pin above the top plate with the bottom ofthe post below the bottom plate. Alternatively or additionally, the postmembers, or at least one post member intended for use as the postbottom, may be long enough to extending through the base from theground, which would act to seat of the post on the ground, thus makingthe need for a base-level support pin unnecessary. In each of theseconfigurations, the passage of the post through the central apertures ofthe two base plates positions and maintains the post in an uprightvertical position. The terms vertical and horizontal are being usedherein to differentiate between substantially perpendicular directions,but it will be appreciated that an element described as ‘vertical’ maydeviate somewhat from a purely vertical orientation, and the sameapplies to use of the term ‘horizontal’.

FIG. 7 shows the top support stand 24 of the potted plant holder that isused to form a single-plant top tier thereof above the top end of thepost 12. Like the arm or branch style supports 22, the top support 68consists solely of a bent wire rod configured to have a suitable shapefor supporting a potted plant. The top support 68 thus has a linearlyextending portion 70 having a split ring 72 formed at one end thereof,but unlike the arm supports, the ring lies in a plane perpendicular tothe linear portion 70, which is vertically oriented in the top support.At the opposite bottom end of the vertical linear portion 70, ahorizontal linear portion 74 bends at a right angle thereto toward asame side of the linear portion as that on which the ring 72 is located.The two linear portions 70, 74 lie in a common vertical plane alsocontaining a diameter of the horizontal circular path of the split ring72. At the end of the horizontal linear portion 74 opposite the verticallinear portion 70, the wire rod is coiled around a vertical axis, and auniform inner diameter of the coil 76 slightly exceeds the outerdiameter of the top end of each post member 46. As shown in FIGS. 1 and8, the coil is slipped over the top end of the uppermost member of thepost 12 to seat the bottom of the coil atop a one of the hubs that hasbeen installed on the uppermost post member at a pin-receivingtransverse hole proximate the post member's top end. The close fit ofthe coil around the vertical post positions the ring-carrying linearportion 70 vertically to carry the ring horizontally at an elevationover the top end of the post 12, while the horizontally lateral juttingof the coil-attaching linear portion 74 provides the necessary offset ofthe ring-carrying linear portion to position the ring substantiallyconcentric with the post 12.

The tree-style plant holder 10 of FIG. 1 can be easily constructed fromindividual components that can be sold and transported inspace-efficient substantially flat-pack packaging. The installer orend-user unpacks the legs, pole members, arm supports, top supportstand, and the hubs and base. The hubs and base may be preassembled, orprovided as separate subcomponents (plates, spacers, bolts, nuts), whichare then assembled by the installer or end-user. The legs are fittedinto the base, and the post is then setup, either by placing a firstpost member therein and then adding two additional post members thereto,or by assembling the post members and then placing the lower end of thejoined post members into the base and either setting the lower end ofthe post on the ground or using a pin to engage the post to the base. Apin assembly is set in the top one of the two transverse holes in thebottom post member, and a respective hub is slid onto the post and setatop this first pin assembly. A second pin assembly is likewise set inthe top one of the two transverse holes in the second post member, and arespective hub is slid onto the post and set atop this first secondassembly. A third pin assembly is likewise set in the top one of the twotransverse holes in the top post member, and a respective hub is slidonto the post and set atop this third pin assembly. The top supportstand 24 is then slid onto the top end of the post to sit atop thislast/upper hub. All seven slot pairs in the bottom hub are fitted withseven provided support arms of a first length. Five of the seven slotpairs in the middle hub are fitted with five provided support arms of asecond length shorter than the first. Finally, three of the seven slotpairs in the top hub are fitted with three provided support arms of athird length shorter than the first and second lengths. If the hubs andbase are preassembled, the entire apparatus can be assembled without theuse of any tools. Even if the hubs and base need assembly, the nut andbolt fasteners mean that only a basic conventional wrench is required.

It will be appreciated that the order of some steps may be changed fromthat described above. Support arms can be installed before or afterinstallation of the respective hub, and the top support stand may beinstalled anytime after the top hub. The bottom hub may be installedbefore the middle post member is fitted into the bottom post member,just as the middle hub may be installed onto the assembled bottom andmiddle post members before installation of the top post member. FIG. 8illustrates how the number of arms or branches per hub may be variedfrom those shown in FIG. 1. For example, a kit of parts may includeseven long arms, five medium arms and three short arms, and the end-usercan select which arms to use and where. For example, although a treeshape that tapers by reducing the arm length per hub moving up the postis desirable to some, the end user can select which branches to use andwhere, how many post sections to use, how many hubs to use, etc.

FIG. 10 illustrates an arrangement for reducing the diameter of pottedplant each support of the plant holder is arranged to support. A wirerod is bent into a split-ring shape 78 having a smaller diameter thanthe equally sized split rings 28, 72 of the arm and top stand supports.Shorter lengths of wire are each bent into a C-shaped hanger 80 thathooks or curves back along itself at each end with a wide enoughcurvature to accommodate the wire-diameter of each split ring 28, 72,78. As shown in FIG. 10B, the lower hooked end of each of a plurality ofhangers 80 embraces around the bottom of the adapter ring 78. The topend of each hanger is then hooked over the top of the arm or standsupport ring 28, 72 to hang the adapter ring 78 concentrically below thesupport ring in a plane parallel thereto. A smaller pot that wouldsimply pass through the default ring size of each pot support can bepassed downward through the support's integral ring to nest it withinthe smaller ring now suspended beneath the integral ring. A kit ofadapter rings and hangers may be sold together with the other plantholder components, or sold separately as an optional add-on product. Forexample, a plant holder having its arm/branch and top stand typesupports configured with a ring size suitable to nest a 10-inch pottherein may include, or separately have available, a kit for adapter thesupports to an 8-inch or 6-inch pot, or both. For example, one adapterkit may feature a set of rings of one size equal in number to number ofarm and stand supports included with the original plant holder product,and sufficient hangers (e.g. three per ring) to suspend them.Alternatively, the kit might includes two-sets of differently sizedrings, and enough hangers for use of either full set. Through theadapter kit or system, an end-user is not limited to only a singlepredetermined pot size, and may reconfigure the stand to a differentpotted plant size at any time simply by installing. removing orsubstituting a set of adapter rings.

Even once an installer or end-user has assembled a plant holder, it canbe easily reconfigured to take on a different appearance. For example,with reference to FIG. 1, conversion of the three tier holder to a twotier holder can be easily accomplished by removing the top support stand24, removing the top hub, removing the top post member, replacing thearms of the bottom hub with those from the second hub (formerly themiddle hub, now the top hub), installing the arms from the removed thirdhub (formerly the top hub, now no longer used) into the second hub, andreinstalling the top support stand onto the second post member (formerlythe middle post member, now the top post member). The same result couldbe achieved by removing the top and middle post members and all hubs andsupports thereon, then removing the bottom hub on the bottom post memberfor replacement by the former middle hub and its arm supports, thenreinstalling one of the two removed post members onto the bottom postmember and installing the former top hub and the support stand. Theseare only presented as examples of the flexibility, customization andreconfigurability of the illustrated plant holder system. Using the samehubs, support arm configuration and post members minimizes manufacturingcosts and increase user-friendliness by reducing the number of uniqueparts. Using bent wire for supports, fastener-assembled hubs and simpleinsert or placement connections between the hubs and supports and thebase and legs avoids the need for any welding. The assembled hubs useeasy-to-machine end plates and readily available fasteners to avoid moreintense machining of solid bodies to form insertion passages forreceiving the post and the support arms.

However, it will be appreciated that some of the beneficial aspects ofthe above described plant stand may employed independently of oneanother to still provide some degree of improvement or advantage overthe prior art. For example, the complimentary hub slots and wire-formedsupport arms designs may be employed even if the hubs are permanentlyfixed to a single-piece post or respective post sections of amulti-piece post or if the hubs are machined from stock or weldedtogether. Likewise, the use of a multi-piece nested together postassembly may be used to provide a uniform post diameter allowinguninterrupted sliding of hubs therealong regardless of the type ofconnection employed between the hubs and the support arms and how thehub is releasably locked in at the desired installation position on thepost. For example, use of set screws in hub collars is a known prior arttechnique for setting a hub at a selected position along a post. Also,although the illustrated and described post is circular incross-section, slidability of hubs among and fully along assembled postmembers could likewise be achieved with other cross-sectional shapes(e.g. swaged rectangular tubing post with a rectangular axial passage inthe hub) by similarly having reduced cross-sectional size at the lowerend for nesting within the larger upper end of another member. A roundpost has the advantage of not requiring a particular rotationalalignment between the hub and post, and thus allowing the user to set adesired angular position of the hub relative to the post. Reduced endsmay be fit into larger hollow top ends, regardless of whether the postmember is tubular (i.e. hollow throughout its full length). Also, thetype of base, legs or stands may be varied without affecting the otheradvantageous feature disclosed herein.

A plant watering system of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.11 in combination with a tree-shaped potted plant holder of the presentinvention.

More detailed features. The system features a number of ring-shapedconduit members 100 a, 100 b, 100 c that are equal in number to thenumber of hubs found on the tree-style potted plant holder. Each ringshaped conduit member 100 a, 100 b, 100 c closes around the post at aposition seated atop the branches projecting from a respective one ofthe hubs. With additional reference to FIG. 12, each ring-shaped conduitmember is made of a number of T-fittings that exceed the number ofbranches at the respective hub by one, and a number of lengths offlexible tubing 102 that also exceed the number of branches at thislevel by one. Each length of flexible tubing interconnects two of theT-fittings, so that the T-fittings and the tubing combine to form theclosed-ring shape of the resulting conduit that extends around the post.Two of the three ports of each T-fitting are thus taken up by two tubingpieces 102 of the resulting ring-shaped conduit. For all but one of theT-fittings 104 of each ring-shaped conduit, the remaining third port iscoupled to a branch conduit 106 that is provided by a longer piece offlexible tubing that extends outward away from the post along arespective one of the branches, and reaches into the potted plantsupported at the ring-shaped distal end of the branch. The one remainingT-fitting 108 of each ring-shaped conduit 100 a, 100 b, 100 c each hasits remaining third port coupled to a short piece of flexible tubing 110forming a linking conduit to another T-fitting 112, from the other twoports of which extend two respective post conduits that run respectivelyupward and downward along the upright axis of the post or trunk of thetree-shaped stand.

At each intermediate hub between the uppermost and lowermost hubs of thestand, the flexible hose defining the upward extending post conduit 114b connects the ring-shaped conduit in question to the next ring-shapedconduit 100 a further up the trunk or post of the stand, at theT-fitting 108 of the linking conduit 110 thereof, and the flexible hosedefining the downward extending post 116 b conduit likewise connects thering-shaped conduit in question to the next ring-shaped conduit 100 cfurther down the trunk or post of the stand, at the T-fitting 108 of thelinking conduit 110 thereof. At the uppermost hub, the upward extendingpost conduit 114 a does not connect to another ring-shaped conduit, butinstead extends upward to the top support stand 24′ at the top of thepost, and into the single pot seated on this single-pot support stand.In FIG. 11, the top support stand 24′ differs from the precedingembodiments in that its lacks a coiled lower end that fits externallyover the top of the post, instead employing a vertical stem at its lowerend for insertion into an open top end of the uppermost post member. Atthe lowermost hub, the downward extending post conduit 116 c also doesnot connect to another ring-shaped conduit, but instead extends down tothe ground, where a female hose coupling 118 fitted on the end of thispost conduit is arranged to couple with the externally threaded malecoupling of a conventional garden hose.

At the end of each branch conduit 106 opposite the respectivering-shaped conduit 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, and at the end of the uppermostpost conduit 114 a opposite the uppermost ring-shaped conduit 100 a, aT-fitting 120 has one port connected to this conduit 106, 114 a. Alength of soaker hose 122 having perforations in the wall thereof toallow water to sweat or seep from the hose at multiple locationstherealong has its opposite ends coupled to the other two ports of theT-fitting 120 to form a closed loop or ring-shape at the end of therespective branch or post conduit. The closed-loop/ring-shaped soakerhose arrangement 122 is placed within the pot 124 of the respectiveplant, so that water discharged from the soaker hose will wet the soilof the pot at locations around the circumference thereof. FIG. 12 showsbranch conduit and soaker hose assemblies of different sizes fordifferent ones of the ring conduits. The branch conduits become longermoving down the post so as to span the longer branches to reach the potsat the end thereof, and the ring-shaped soaker hose arrangements mayvary in size to fit in different pot sizes.

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, which features a three-hubplant holder and thus three ring-shaped conduits, the illustratedwatering system thus operates as follows. With the lowermost postconduit 116 c coupled to the garden hose, and the hose tap opened, thepressurized water source delivers water through the garden hose and intothe lowermost post conduit 116 c, through which the water rises into thelowermost ring-shaped conduit 100 c. From here, part of the water streamflows outward through the branch conduits 106 at this lower level ofbranches into the respective soaker hoses 122 in order to deliver waterto the potted plants at this level. A remainder of the water streamcontinues upward through the post conduit 116 b extending upward fromthis lowermost ring-shaped conduit 100 c, thus reaching the intermediatering-shaped conduit 100 b at the intermediate level of branches. Here, asimilar splitting of the water stream takes place, some being deliveredouter to the potted plants at this level through the branch conduits 106and soaker hoses 122, and the remainder continuing upward to theuppermost ring-shaped conduit 100 a at the uppermost level of branches.At this level, a final splitting of the stream occurs, delivering somewater to the multiple plants at this top multi-plant level, and sendingthe rest of the water stream up to the single plant at the topsingle-plant support 24.

The watering system is easy to install during assembly of the stand.With the lowermost hub and branches installed, the ring-shaped conduitsare simply lowered over the top end the assembled post-section(s). Withthe next higher hub in place, but no branches yet added, all of thering-shaped conduits except the lowermost one featuring the garden hosecoupling conduit are raised over this next higher hub and held in placewhile one or more branches are inserted at this hub. This process(raising ring-shaped conduits up over the next hub, installing branchesthereat, and then seating the respective ring-shaped conduit on thishub), is repeated until the uppermost ring-shaped conduit is seated onthe branches of the uppermost hub, at which point the final uppermostpost conduit and attached soaker hose is lifted and placed into thesingle-plant at the top supper 24 of the plant stand. Tie straps,elastic bands, string, or other ties or clamps may be used to secure thewatering system to the stand, for example closing around each branchconduit and the branch it extends along, as shown in FIG. 11. It will beappreciated that the post conduits may be similarly secured to the post.Again referring to FIG. 11, the branch conduits may coil around thebranches in their travel from the ring conduit to the potted plant.

The watering system provides an advantage over prior art stand andwatering solutions, where tubular pieces of the stand structure are usedas water conduits, as such solutions using the post or trunk as a waterdelivery conduit require fluid-tight assembly of the post sections oruse of a continuous length of pipe, thereby increasing the complexity ofthe assembly process or lacking the ability to break down the trunk postfor compact storage or transport, and prior art solutions usingpipe-shaped branches as water delivery conduits from the trunk to theplants lack the simplicity of the seat-in-place wire branch installationpresent invention. The present invention thus provides an easy toassembly stand, with an optional watering system included with the standor separately available as an add-on purchase.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein abovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without department from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

1. A potted plant holder comprising: a plurality of elongated postpieces including: a bottom post member having a hollow upper end; and atleast one additional post member comprising an upper portion of uniformcross-sectional outer periphery and a lower end of reducedcross-sectional outer periphery relative to the upper portion, the lowerend of reduced cross-sectional outer periphery being sized to fit withinthe hollow upper end of the bottom post member and seat the upperportion of uniform cross-sectional outer periphery atop the hollow upperend of the bottom post member, and the upper portion being equal incross-sectional outer periphery to the hollow upper end of the bottompost member; a plurality of hubs each comprising a central passageextending axially therethrough, the central passage having across-sectional size and shape sufficient to accommodate the uniformcross-sectional periphery therein; a plurality of elongate supportbranches for each hub, each support branch having an inboard endconfigured for support by said hub radially outward from the centralpassage therethrough at a respective position around said centralpassage and an outboard end configured as a ring for supporting a plantpot; and a stop device associated with each hub and operable incooperation with said hub and any uprightly oriented post member of theplurality of elongated post members when said hub is slidably disposedaround said post member to retain the hub at a select position alongsaid post member; whereby the equal cross-sectional periphery of thehollow upper end of the bottom post member and the upper portion of theadditional post member enables sliding of any hub from the additionalpost member to the bottom post member, and vice versa, while said postmembers are fitted together end-to-end.
 2. The potted plant holder ofclaim 1 wherein each stop device comprises a pin device engagablethrough any of a plurality of transverse bores extending through theplurality of post members at distinct locations therealong.
 3. Thepotted plant holder of claim 1 wherein each hub comprises a plurality ofouter passages extending axially thereinto at areas outward from thecentral passage at the respective positions therearound and each outerpassage has a slot-shaped cross-section elongated in one of twoorthogonal directions, each support branch comprising a rod that is bentat the outboard end to form the ring and bent at the inboard end to forma first leg extending laterally relative to a plane of the ring and asecond leg extending back along the first leg from an integralconnection thereto, the legs being fittable side by side in any of theouter passages of the hub in the elongated direction of the slot-shapedcross-section thereof.
 4. The potted plant holder of claim 3 whereineach hub comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel end plates havingrespective central apertures aligned with one another to define ends ofthe central passage through the hub and having respective sets of slotsaligned with one another to define ends of the outer passages, whichextend fully through the hub.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The potted plant holderof claim 4 comprising bolts passing through the end plates forinterconnection thereof, spacers disposed between the end plates and anut threaded onto each bolt from outside the end plates.
 6. The pottedplant holder of claim 5 wherein the spacers comprise hollow cylindersthrough which the bolts respectively pass.
 7. The potted plant holder ofclaim 1 comprising leg members, and a post base having a central openingin a top end thereof and a plurality of leg openings positioned radiallyoutward from the central opening at spaced locations therearound, thecentral opening being sized to receive a bottom end of the bottom postmember and the leg openings being sized to receive inboard ends of theleg members.
 8. The potted plant holder of claim 7 wherein the legopenings open into a bottom of the post base.
 9. The potted plant holderof claim 7 wherein each leg member comprises an upturned end shaped forreceipt in the leg openings and an extending portion branching laterallyfrom the upturned end.
 10. The potted plant holder of claim 1 furthercomprising a set of adapter rings each smaller in diameter than therings of the support branches and a plurality of mounts configured toselectively couple the adapter rings to the rings of the supportbranches in parallel orientations therewith to configure the supportbranches for nested support of smaller potted plants.
 11. The pottedplant holder of claim 10 wherein the mounts each comprise a hangerhaving hooked upper end for engagement over the ring of any supportbranch to suspend the adapter ring therefrom.
 12. The potted plantholder of claim 11 wherein each hanger is C-shaped to provide a hookedlower end for embracing around a bottom of the adapter ring.
 13. Thepotted plant holder of claim 10 wherein each mount comprises a piece ofwire bent into a hanger and each adapter ring is a split ring of bentwire.
 14. The potted plant holder of claim 1 in combination with a plantwatering system for same, the plant water system comprising: an intakeconduit having an inlet arranged to couple to a water source; aplurality of ring-shaped conduit members coupled to the intake conduitand each sized for placement over the post members to form a waterconduit that is fed by the water source and that extends around the postmembers above the support branches of a respective one of the hubs; atleast one post conduit each fluidly coupled between a respective pair ofthe ring-shaped conduit members to extend along the post members todeliver water from one of said pair ring-shaped conduit members to theother of said pair of ring-shaped conduit members; a plurality of branchconduits in fluid communication with the water conduit of eachring-shaped conduit member and extending outward therefrom to extendalong the elongate support branches to the potted plants; and a wateroutlet at an end of each branch conduit opposite the ring-shaped conduitmember to discharge water into the potted plants at the outboard ends ofthe support branches.
 15. A potted plant holder comprising: an uprightelongated post: a plurality of hubs supported on the elongated post atspaced apart positions therealong, each hub comprising a plurality ofouter passages extending axially thereinto at areas outward from theelongated post at respective positions therearound and each outerpassage having a slot-shaped cross-section elongated in one of twoorthogonal directions; a plurality of elongate support branches for eachhub, each support branch comprising a rod that is bent at an outboardend thereof to form a ring for supporting a pot and bent at an inboardend to form a first leg extending laterally relative to a plane of thering and a second leg extending back along the first leg from anintegral connection thereto, the legs being fittable side by side in anyof the outer passages of the hub in the elongated direction of theslot-shaped cross-section thereof.
 16. A watering system for a pottedplant holder having an upright elongated post structure and multiplesets of branches at different heights along the post structure and eachcomprising a plurality of elongate support branches projecting outwardlyaway from post structure in order to support potted plants on saidsupport branches, the watering system comprising: an intake conduithaving an inlet arranged to couple to a water source; a plurality ofring-shaped conduit members coupled to the intake conduit and each sizedfor placement over the post structure to form a water conduit that isfed by the water source and that extends around the post structure abovea respective set of branches; at least one post conduit each fluidlycoupled between a respective pair of the ring-shaped conduit members toextend along the post structure to deliver water from one of said pairring-shaped conduit members to the other of said pair of ring-shapedconduit members; a plurality of branch conduits in fluid communicationwith the water conduit of each ring-shaped conduit member and extendingoutward therefrom to extend along the elongate support branches to thepotted plants; and a water outlet at an end of each branch conduitopposite the ring-shaped conduit member to discharge water into thepotted plants.
 17. The watering system of claim 16 wherein each branchconduit comprises flexible tubing.
 18. The watering system of claim 16wherein the water outlet comprises an outlet tube arranged to dischargewater therefrom at multiple points therealong.
 19. The water system ofclaim 18 wherein the outlet tube has opposite ends thereof coupled to aT-fitting that is also coupled with an end of the branch conduitopposite the ring-shaped conduit member.
 20. The watering system ofclaim 16 wherein each ring-shaped conduit member comprises multiplelengths of tubing connected together by T-fittings, each of whichconnects the lengths of tubing of the ring-shaped conduit to arespective one of the branch conduits.